When Microsoft released the Fall Dashboard Update
for the Xbox 360, users expected 1080p, HD DVD, WMA streaming and
more. What no one expected was that the update crashed
consoles, rendering them mostly useless. Microsoft quickly
acknowledged and fixed the problem, and advised those who had bricked consoles
to contact Xbox tech support for further instruction.

More than a month after Microsoft’s dangerous Dashboard, a
Californian man is leading a class action lawsuit against Microsoft after his
own Xbox 360 was disabled by the update, according to Ars
Technica’s report.

Apparently, after contacting Xbox tech support following the
faulty update, Kevin Ray was refused repair of his console unless he paid the
usual $140 charge that Microsoft requires for servicing/exchanging a machine.
The class action suit filed in a Washington federal court seeks over $5 million
in damages in addition to free repair for all Xbox 360 fallen victim to the
Fall Dashboard Update.

Microsoft only warranties Xbox 360s for 90 days following
purchase, but users have the option to purchase extended warranty directly for an
added fee. Failure rates have been abnormally high, especially among launch
window consoles, that Microsoft has agreed to repair all
machines manufactured in 2005 free of charge, and issue a refund for those
who already paid for repairs of launch units.